That said, a Facebook post from the New Jersey Attorney General’s office advises parents to use them by April 15, noting, “After this date, gift cards will be considered ‘unsecured debts’ in the bankruptcy proceedings, and the card may not be worth anything.” They also assured parents that the Division "will use its best efforts to see that you are able to use the gift card before the April 15th deadline."

What About ‘Endless Earnings’ Deadlines?

Babies”R”Us’ “Endless Earnings” program promised 5 percent cash back on the first $300 spent on baby registry items and 10 percent on everything above that. The retailer has been emailing the gift cards out 12 weeks after a L.O.’s due date. But given the current situation, moms- and dads-to-be who don’t spend their “Endless Earnings” before mid-April will lose the value of the gift card, notes Business Insider. Program participants who have appealed to receive their rewards sooner rather than later have been rebuffed by the company. (More than one mother interviewed by BI shared that their requests to receive hundreds of dollars’ worth of “Endless Earnings” paid immediately were refused by customer service representatives.)

Registry Alternatives

As of now, Babies"R"Us registries are operational — but the company hasn't made clear how long that will last. Luckily, parents-to-be have several alternatives:

2. Costco. A favorite among bulk shoppers, you can mix your requests for baby essentials with grocery needs. Gift givers don’t even need to be members to participate, and the registry is actually a universal one hosted by MyRegistry.com.

4. Walmart. If you register at the nationwide retailer, you get a a free welcome box that includes baby-related product samples, the ability to add products directly to your registry from your phone using Walmart’s app, price matching against competitors, and free returns within 90 days for a gift card equal to the item’s value.

5. Amazon. If you opt to register with the online retailer, you can use their Universal Registry button that allows you to add items from other sites, low prices, a completion discount (10 percent off — or 15 percent off for Prime members — on products that you purchase from your registry less than 60 days before your due date and up to 180 days after), free 90-day returns, and free two-day shipping if you’re a Prime member or your order is more than $25.

Meanwhile, Babylist, a site that allows families to combine registries in one place, is offering to help parents with Babies"R"Us registries find comparable items at other companies and is offering a $10 site credit to customers who switch over, noted Natalie Gordon, the site’s founder.